9.26.11

It was a ... (the public library here is at the middle school and one of the younger boys in the ward just peeked in and saw me as he was going to the bathroom and we had a quick "light saber fight" and he went on his way) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA !!!!! The kid loves Star Wars ! So anyway, we had an amazing end to our week !!!! We were having a lot of opposition but through it all we had a miracle. We were trying to see an LA that we have been trying to get in contact with but she wasn't there/it wasn't her place. So then we felt impressed to knock on these apartments even though I had many times before. And we found Johnaley and her mom. Her mom just moved there and hasn't been to church for years and Johnaley who is 23 was the only one in the family who was never baptized !!! She is so sweet and we have had a few amazing lessons where the spirit was so strong. She is now preparing to be baptized !!!!!! She has two really cute little ones (a boy 4yrs and girl 2yrs). I am always reminded of how this is the Lord's work and that Heavenly Father's children who are here on earth are seeking the gospel and are being prepared. I pray that you all prepare for conference and heed the words that we hear from the prophet and the apostles. Their counsel is the most important thing to apply in our lives at this time. Elder well... now its Kevin Ansersen (my trainer) :] He sent me a very inspired and awesome letter right before he went home and I am so grateful for his service and the good man he is. Keep a look out for him cause i know he will probably try to contact the fam. But we'll see cause he will be busy with school. I love that man !!!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH !!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock

9.20.11

It has been so great getting all the mail that I got last week. Thank you soooooo much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Things are going good. I didn't write yesterday because today was transfers and so p-day was today and the library was open from 4-6 today. I loved the pictures Ana sent of Bubbas 3rd birthday !!!! I love that he always say,"your turn!" HAHAHA I miss my BUBBAS !!! We haven't been able to get in contact with Josh this whole week. It is a real bummer but I pray that he and his family will be able to all be sealed together someday. The weather has been so nice here lately. I am really looking forward to fall.

I LOVE YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock
AkA "Soldier of God"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT MONICA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!

9.12.11

Josh and the kids didn't come to church. :[ We are working hard and keeping the faith !!! We are going fishing with Ricky today and so I am pumped about that.

Thank you so much cousin Jeni for writting, it means so much to me. To answer your question: Yes, we do get a lot of opportunities to serve in the area I am in. Things like helping build a barn, chopping fire wood, helping people move, paint etc. Its really great ! I am happy to hear your family is doing well, thank you SO MUCH for your prayers. Love you !!!

Sister Wright !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for writting me as well !!! HAHAHHAA I died laughing when you said you call me "Elder exclamation point" Its so true !!! Then when you pointed out that my Maa does the same thing I again was reminded how much I am like my Maa. Not that thats bad ! ;] But thank you so much, it really touched my heart. Thank you for your love and support.

This is for the unbelievers. Stacy did pick me up before ... It blew my mind and I thought she would have permanent back problems from then on ! She is as strong as an OX !!! HAHHAA

I love serving my God !!!! The mission is the best thing I have ever done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you Maa, miss you a ton. Tell Stace that I got her letter on Saturday.

"Elder Bentley's dad sent me a post card since Elder Bentley has been getting so many. HAHA That was really cool of him and I look forward to trying one of his milkshakes someday!"


Elder Hathcock
AkA "Soldier of God"

9.6.11

Things are going great !!! We finally were able to teach Josh's kids and it went really good !

There is this guy who we have been trying to sit down and share our message with since June and I have been able to build a good relationship with him. The only time we ever get to talk to him/when he is home, is when he is working on his diesel truck so we will help him and share some principles with him but never got to sit down and have a lesson until yesterday ! He is now preparing to be baptized !!! I really love this guy a lot he is a really genuine and humble guy.

That picture of Bwookwynn is so CUTE !!!!!!! Its funny how much she looks like JoJo ! Little Logan is such a cute kid too !!! And the bubbas with his baseball bat!

Rye is a wonderful place and the members are amazing. It was really nice the other day. I am looking forward to fall here, they say it looks like the mountains are on fire from the color change. SO SWEET !!!

I now know how Elder Andersen felt when it comes to training a new missionary in regards to the amount of mail they get. Every time we check the mail, its for E. Bentley ! He gets a ridiculous amount though. HA

I love you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock
AkA "Soldier of God"

PS: Sorry Maa, once again i didn't send that package yet. But I am going to try to today. I haven't heard from Stacy in a bit. How is she? Oh and tell cuz Staci CONGRATS on the new baby girl !!!

8.29.11

Well Josh got sick this past week which was a bummer and so he didn't make it to church. But the good news, is that he has Sundays off of work from now on !!! Thank you for the prayers on his behalf. His 9 yr old daughter is such a character. He told us a story about her the other day. They went somewhere and there was this guy who I guess was looking really grubby and Haylee says,"Look at that dirtball dad." HAHA So Josh says to her,"Thats not nice Haylee, you shouldn't judge people." She looks up at him and says,"Gosh dad, you've been talking to the Mormons too much." HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I about died laughing !!! If you knew her it is so much funnier. She has the cutest little raspy voice and she is just awesome !! We had this old guy that came to church yesterday and we were pumped that he came !!!! He had a great experience and knew a lot of people. Mr. Fields is his name. I had an amazing experience yesterday concerning the sacrament. The past few days I was just feeling really empty like the spirit was just not with me and it was rough. Then yesterday right when I took the bread and bowed my head to give thanks I was filled with the spirit so strongly !!! It was amazing and strengthened my testimony of the Lords promise, that as we take the sacrament we are able to have his spirit to continue to be with us. I am so grateful for the blessing of being able to partake of the sacrament that has been blessed by Gods priesthood authority. I now know that I dont ever wanna miss being able to partake of the sacrament every week !!!! It was like the Lord said,"You're forgiven! Now keep pressing forward and work hard !" :] Some other cool news is that I have a second cousin in the ward here !!! Sister Porter, I think her first name is Denise. Her Grandad is Virgil Hathcock !!!! It is a small world ! Her kids were talking about grandma Hathcock and it was so cool. I was like "I have a grandma Hathcock too !" Sister Porter went on to tell me about more family that lives in Alamosa and Monte Vista. I know I will be sent there sometime during my mission !!! Tell Derek that I said thank you for his example and that I love him and am glad he is home safe ! I love you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. HAPPY B-DAY PAPPY AND KIMMY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU BOTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock
--
I keep forgetting to tell you Maa ... I eat onions now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a miracle !!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAAA !!!! Its so funny cause I was just forced to eat then and then all the sudden I was like,"This is really good!" If onions are available for a meal I put them on ! I love purple onion !!! :] thought you'd like to know. Love you !!!!!!!!!

8.22.11

So sweet that Ben got a job !!! Prayers have been answered ! Its so cool to see how the Lord blesses his missionaries. Elder Bentley lacks confidence and talking with people, but I promised him that the Lord would bless him to learn quickly and gain strength and confidence and it is amazing to see his progress already in just 2 weeks. I have been counselled to keep my mouth shut and let Elder Bentley talk and learn by experience and I was having a tough time keeping my big yapper shut !!! Finally I did really good yesterday and it was awesome to see what Elder Bentley was capable of. I am loving being a trainer, it is a huge responsibility but I love it ! I am learning and growing so much from it as well as Elder Bentley. Josh is preparing for baptism !!!! He did not make it to church yesterday but I am not letting it get me down. My leaders have helped me realize/understand that I need to stop beating myself up, and to remember this is the Lords work and things will happen. So I am really trying my best not to and I am feeling a lot happier cause of it. I love being a missionary !!!!!!!!!!! We had a really cool experience with Josh. He has been doing really good and he said something that really touched my heart. Since he has come to church and been reading the scriptures and keeping commitments, he has been so happy and has been over coming his "demons"/temptations. He said that the other day he was sitting there and all the sudden he had this feeling that he has never had before in his life. He said, "I felt like I knew everything was going to turn out alright, for the first time ever in my life." The spirit was so strong as he shared that. His kids are so awesome and we are looking forward to start teaching them. That's crazy that Derek will be home in a few days !!! I'm so proud of him !!! Little Ellie is so cute !!!
Love you all and thank you all !!!!

Elder Hathcock

pictures!

Rubye's Baptism
elder hathcock and elder bentley
the Boomshot Shirt

8.15.11

Sounds like a great week !!!! That is so amazing about the Bentley connection with us. This is so the Lords work. I am so grateful for the sacred trust that the Lord has put in me to train and I will NOT let him down. Elder Bentley is a great guy and is humble, which is great !!! He jams on the piano like no other, its really cool. He is learning quickly and he will be a great missionary ! He couldn't ask for a better area to start in. We had our investigator Josh at church yesterday, FINALLY !!! It was such a glorious day !!!! He had an amazing experience and said afterward, "I gotta bring my kids next time." WOO WEE !!!!!!! Brought so much joy to my heart !!! Josh is such a good guy but has had some major struggles but we are helping him see the strength that God gives him when he makes righteous decisions. I love serving my Lord and am so grateful for the strength that I receive everyday. There is NO way that I could do this if it was no the Lords work. That in itself is such a great testimony to me ! It was cool cause Elder Bentley got to confirm Rubye yesterday ! I love you ALL and my prayers are with you as I know yours are with me, I feel there strength !

Elder Hathcock
AkA "Soldier of God"

p.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA !!!!!!!!!!!!! What are you, 30 years old now ? ;] Love and miss you very much !!!!

p.p.s Congrats to you Camille !!!


Better wish it to you while I have the chance ...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MAA and PAA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for loving each other and sacrificing for each other, allowing us as your kids to be raised with love and with truth.

8.8.10

Little Rubye got baptized yesterday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so amazing !!! It was in a creek here in Rye. Bro Moyer baptized her and it was an incredible experience for him as well. He recently started coming to church again after about 17 years. He is Rubyes step dad. It was the first time he has baptized someone and I am so thankful to have been apart of it. I'll send pictures next week.

Your not gonna believe it ! I am training a missionary from Lancaster CA !!! I told Pres Andersen that and he had no idea that was where I was born !!! Another testimony that this is Gods work. Elder Bently is his name. I'm sorry I missed wishing a happy birthday to Ana and Ben! So ... Happy Belated B-Days !!!!! YAY !!! HAHA

I am excited to train but also very stressed! I will be staying here in Rye and I am very happy about that. This ward is so special. I will be here for sure until October! There are miracles waiting to happen and are happening. Love you all and am grateful for your love and support and prayers as always !!!

P.S. Thank you so much Parkers for the card, I miss and love you all so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Hathcock
AkA "Soldier of God"

8/1/11

That is awesome that you finished reading the B.O.M that quickly ! Its amazing the strength it gives you huh? Sounds like a busy month.

Its been a tough few weeks, its tough when you have a "trunky" companion who is about to go home. I am looking forward to a new transfer but also very stressed ! I found out that I am not going to be DL ... but that I am training a new missionary !!!!!!!! I am trying not to get too stressed, but I want to make sure I do the best job I can to prepare this missionary for the rest of his service.
We had a meeting last week where we learned about some new training material and we are the first mission in the world to do it, so thats pretty cool.

I got my package ! Thank you so much !!! I also got the P.O.S teaching cards today. Tell Stacy I got her package and letter too !!!!! So grateful !!!!!!!

We are teaching a single dad who has three little kids and he has a drinking problem and has the true desire to change his life and know if the gospel is true. He hit some rough times this past week but we are helping him learn to rely on the Lord and do his part in receiving guidance and blessings.

I gotta go but thank you for all your prayers and support as always !!!!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock